Career Area:

Engineering

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other.  We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Value Chain Designer – Product Cost Lead (Rigid Frame Trucks)

Location: Decatur, IL or Tucson, AZ
Travel: Up to 10%
Domestic Relocation: Available for Decatur, IL only
Visa Sponsorship: Not available

About the Role

Join Caterpillar as a Value Chain Designer – Product Cost Lead focused on Rigid Frame Trucks, where you’ll drive cost optimization across the entire product lifecycle. This role bridges product value stream teams with end-to-end value chains, ensuring process planning and execution meet customer delivery expectations while achieving product cost targets.

Key Responsibilities

Analyze inbound, value-add, and outbound value chains to uncover cost-saving opportunities.Develop design parameters and technical specifications that meet cost targets and customer needs.Lead strategy development for product cost across operations, supply chain, and product design.Participate in supplier selection and capability assessments.Monitor and test new technologies, materials, and components for product/process improvements.Build business cases and capability studies to recommend improvements.Identify inefficiencies and eliminate waste in time, money, materials, and energy.

Preferred Background

Experience in design engineering, supplier management, operations, or NPI (New Product Introduction) for mining equipment.Proven ability to collaborate across teams with a shared execution mindset.

Required Skills & Competencies

Process Management - Knowledge of business process improvement tools and techniques; ability to understand, monitor, update, control, or enhance existing business or work processes.

Analytical Thinking - Knowledge of techniques and tools that promote effective analysis; ability to determine the root cause of organizational problems and create alternative solutions that resolve these problems.

Effective Communication – Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors.

Problem Solving - Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) - Knowledge of the concepts, principles and techniques of root cause analysis (RCA); ability to use a structured approach to identify the causes of undesirable consequences in a manufacturing environment and the changes needed to prevent recurrences.

Product CostingCost ModelingFinancial AnalysisCost EngineeringCost OptimizationBOM Costing (Bill of Materials)Standard CostingVariance AnalysisProduct Lifecycle CostingSAP Product CostingCost ForecastingMargin AnalysisCost-to-Serve ModelingCost Reduction Strategy

Summary Pay Range:

$110,520.00 - $165,840.00

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar. 

Benefits:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.

Medical, dental, and vision benefits*

Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*

401(k) savings plans*

Health Savings Account (HSA)*

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*

Health Lifestyle Programs*

Employee Assistance Program*

Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*

Career Development*

Incentive bonus*

Disability benefits

Life Insurance

Parental leave

Adoption benefits

Tuition Reimbursement

       

* These benefits also apply to part-time employees

Posting Dates:

September 5, 2025 - September 18, 2025

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.     

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

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